Ask the contractor.

Straight talk on building a storage shed

May 02, 2003|By Tim Carter.

Q. I have run out of room in my garage and must build a small storage shed. The ground where it will be built is on a slope. Do I need to build a retaining wall first and then level the ground? Is there an ideal shed size? I don't want to invest a lot of time and then find out the shed is too small.

A. A majority of building lots have sloping ground. Even ground that appears flat typically has 1 or 2 inches of fall across a distance of 10 or 12 feet. The only place the ground has to be slightly level after the shed is built is just in front of the entrance. A level spot in front of the door will help prevent mishaps as you enter and exit the shed.

Frequently, I find that people get stuck in a mental rut when it comes to home improvement projects. It sounds as if you might have had a concrete slab in mind for the floor of your new shed. There is nothing wrong with concrete, but consider the idea of your new shed as an outdoor deck that simply has a building on top of it. Many outdoor sheds have wood floor systems that perform exceptionally well over time. In fact, many large barns have wood floor systems that support very heavy loads.

The first thing you need to do before you proceed is to find out if you are allowed to build the shed. Local zoning laws and subdivision restrictions may prohibit sheds or restrict where on your property they can be built. Often the best location on your lot for a shed is not where you are allowed to build it. You may have to obtain a zoning variance (formal permission from zoning officials) in order to build the shed.

Before contacting the zoning department, plan what you need for the job. It is easy to size a shed. Clear a spot on your lawn or in your driveway. Arrange all of the things, such as your lawn mower, wheelbarrow, bikes and any other items that you want to store. Place the items so that they are not cramped and you can get to them with little effort. Note the width and the length of the area these items are occupying. My guess is you will quickly determine you need a shed 10 or 12 feet wide by 12 or 14 feet long.

If you decide to build the shed floor using wood, be sure you use floor joists and plywood that are chemically treated. It is a good idea to use alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) treated lumber. This lumber is rot resistant, and wood-destroying insects avoid it like the plague.

I prefer using treated plywood for the shed floor so I don't have to worry if I need to store wet or snow-covered garden equipment. The water that gets on the floor will not harm the wood whatsoever.

To prevent rust on equipment stored in the shed, you need to block water vapor that tries to migrate from the soil through the floor of the shed. Just before you install the treated plywood subfloor on the joists, place two layers of vapor retarder on top of the joists and let it overlap the edges around the entire subfloor perimeter. Stretch it tight and tack it onto the joists.

Be careful not to tear the vapor retarder as you place the sheets of plywood onto the joists. This layer of plastic will stop water vapor from seeping up into the shed in the winter months. If the floor of the slab is concrete, place this same vapor retarder on the soil just before you pour the concrete slab.

To maximize the storage space in your new shed, plan to hang some salvaged kitchen wall cabinets on one or more walls. You might find great cabinets at a garage sale or even a closeout sale at a local kitchen cabinet supply house.

Lighting is also very important. You may want to extend a buried electric cable to the shed. Extending electricity from your home will allow you to install lights and electric receptacles. This power will come in very handy for battery charging, power saws, pumps and any other tool that requires electricity to operate. Be absolutely certain you follow all National Electric Code requirements.

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Visit Tim Carter's Web site at www.askthebuilder.com. Want to talk to Tim? Call him from 9 to 11 a.m. Central on Saturdays toll-free at 888-737-1450.